asked the Minister for Education the plans he has for expanding opportunities in adult education.

A programme of continuing expansion of adult education facilities will be prepared within the context of the financial resources available for the education services generally. This matter will be further considered in connection with the Government Green Paper being prepared by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development.

Would the Minister agree that he has totally failed to answer the question and has not given any indication of any concrete plans for adult or continuing education and would he further agree that the amount provided is absolutely ridiculous?

The Minister would not agree to either of the propositions advanced by the Deputy. The Minister has indicated that plans are being considered in connection with the preparation of the Government White Paper and surely the Deputy will accept that is the appropriate place for such plans to appear.

Would the Minister not agree that the question asked was not whether there are plans being considered but what plans and will he give me more detail of these plans?

The plans presumably are part of the total plan for education and I do not think the Deputy would expect that one element should be extracted. I am sure he would wish to have the totality of the plan and the basis for it.

Can I take it from the Minister's reply that the recommendations of the Murphy Report have now gone by the board and that he is formulating new proposals in relation to second chance education?

I do not know whether or not the Murphy Report has gone by the board. I am sure regard will be had to aspects of the Murphy Report which would be considered suitable for inclusion in the Green Paper.

Has the Minister any proposals to initiate a pilot adult education project similar to the one initiated by the previous Government in County Meath?

I have no such proposals.

Has the Minister any for one in Cavan?